After Air Asia and Silk Air, another Singapore-based low cost airline Tiger Airways has shown interest in starting operations from Nagpur to Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand.

Senior airport director and CEO of Mihan India Limited (MIL) VK Yadava confirmed that a team of Tiger Airways officials is visited the city airport and held discussions with MIL chairman UPS Madan and other officials to check possibility of starting flights from here on Tuesday. 

The airline officials collected data about international and domestic flights, passenger traffic from city, tourist destinations in Vidarbha, and facilities provided by MIL, Yadava informed. The team appeared satisfied with the airport infrastructure which has everything an international airline would need. Since last two days the team is in city for a market and passenger traffic survey. They will take final decision about starting flights and finalize schedule after returning, he said.

MIL is taking interest from world's largest international low cost airline as a positive development. At present, only Air Arabia operates lone international flight from city to Sharjah. The airlines officials also met with officials of Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) to find out tourism opportunities in Vidarbha region and information about tourist flow from the region to Singapore and other places.

MTDC Regional Manager RB Serje said, "Tiger Airways officials also sought information about Pench Tiger reserve, Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve and Lonar in Buldhana district. We told them that almost 8000 tourists from the region visit Singapore and Malaysia annually while a similar number of tourists from Singapore and other countries visited Vidarbha. Tiger Airways is also keen to start a joint venture with MTDC for wildlife tourism in Vidarbha."

However, a senior MIL official added a dash of scepticism. He said, "a few months back officials of Air Asia and Silk Air had visited the city and held meetings with MIL officials. But, their plans have not taken any shape."

Nagpur airport was accorded international airport status four years ago. At its peak, there were four international flights-Qatar Airways to Doha, Air India Express to Dubai, Air India to Bangkok and Air Arabia to Sharjah. Initially, the flights received good response but later these were withdrawn as passenger traffic dipped.